My message on diaspora remittance twisted — Peter Obi

Abdullateef Fowewe

Former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for 2027, Peter Obi, has accused political opponents of distorting his recent comments to Nigerians living abroad.

In a statement shared on X on Tuesday, Obi stated, “MY MESSAGE HAS BEEN TWISTED.”

He noted that although his media office had already issued a clarification, he felt the need to speak personally.

“I deeply appreciate Nigerians in the diaspora who work tirelessly and make enormous sacrifices to support their families back home.

“Their remittances pay for school fees, hospital bills, rent, and feeding expenses. Their patriotism and sacrifices deserve our profound respect,” he wrote.

Obi insisted he never told diaspora Nigerians to abandon their families.

“I never asked them to abandon their loved ones. My concern is that Nigeria should not remain a country where millions depend on relatives abroad for basic survival,” he said.

He added, “Our goal must be to build a nation that provides jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, and economic opportunities for its citizens. I am not asking Nigerians abroad to abandon their families. I am advocating for a Nigeria that will no longer abandon its own people.”

The clarification follows remarks Obi made during an interaction with Nigerians in Manchester, United Kingdom, on Sunday, 18 October 2026.

He urged diaspora citizens to reject repeated requests for money from home, saying words to the effect of “You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no!”

He framed the comment as a challenge to a system of poor governance that leaves many families reliant on external support rather than as a call to cut off relatives.

Videos and excerpts of the remarks circulated widely, prompting criticism from some opposition parties, including the Labour Party, NNPP and SDP, who argued that remittances remain a vital lifeline for many households.

Obi’s supporters and media office countered that the full context emphasised the need for better leadership so that such dependence becomes unnecessary.

Nigeria receives billions of dollars annually in diaspora remittances, which help many families meet basic needs amid economic challenges, Dailyeconomy gathered.

Obi, who ran under the Labour Party in 2023 and is now the NDC candidate for 2027, has repeatedly stressed the importance of fixing governance and creating local opportunities as part of his “New Nigeria” message.